Now that the summer transfer window is finally over (in October too, a very long ‘summer’ indeed), we can have a look back at the most exciting new faces arriving in the Premier League.
Deadline day was dramatic as ever, and we’d argue one of the best signings of the bunch came late last night, though it’s not our number one.
Read on for our top ten most exciting signings made by Premier League clubs in this transfer window…
10) Eberechi Eze
Perhaps not the biggest name in the top flight…yet, but Eberechi Eze looked an outstanding young talent in the Championship last season with his tricks and skills for Queens Park Rangers.
Eze has shown glimpses of that immense talent at new club Crystal Palace, and we imagine there’s going to be a lot more to come from him over the course of the season.
Palace did well to keep hold of Wilfried Zaha, but in Eze they might well have the ideal long-term successor on board anyway.
9) Donny van de Beek
He’s not started a lot of games yet, but Donny van de Beek should end up being a fine player for Manchester United if his form at Ajax was anything to go by.
The Netherlands international has a bit of everything to his game, so should be able to find a role for himself in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, even if it’s not yet clear if he’ll play a more defensive role, attacking role, or even move out wide as he did in the Carabao Cup win over Brighton.
Read former Man Utd midfielder Luke Chadwick’s thoughts on Van de Beek here.
8) Ferran Torres
One of the most exciting young talents in Spain, Ferran Torres has big boots to fill at Manchester City, who lost Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich this summer.
Still, Torres surely has the potential to do the job for Pep Guardiola’s side, especially once they find their feet after being a little slow to get going this season.
Torres was a joy to watch at Valencia and one can only imagine how good he could be if he fulfils his potential and learns under the expert guidance of a world class manager like Guardiola.
7) Edinson Cavani
He’s not arriving at his peak, but Edinson Cavani has been one of the deadliest finishers in world football down the years, so it’s great to finally see him in the Premier League as he joins Manchester United.
The Uruguay international could also be a bargain due to arriving as a free agent, and it’s a little surprising no one else was in for him after his 400+ career goals for club and country.
United were able to land Cavani on deadline day seemingly without much competition, and they’ll hope the experience and quality of the 33-year-old can take the pressure off youthful front three Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
6) James Rodriguez
It’s been a great start at Everton for James Rodriguez, who looks back to his best after a difficult period at Real Madrid and on loan at Bayern Munich.
The Colombia international looked to have the world at his feet after *that* memorable World Cup campaign in 2014, but it’s fair to say things never panned out as many would have hoped for him at Real Madrid.
Still, Rodriguez has settled instantly in the Premier League, seemingly enjoying his reunion with Carlo Ancelotti, who looks to be putting a really exciting side together at Goodison Park, with Everton surprisingly leading the table after the opening four games of the season.
5) Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale is back at Tottenham and it’s hard not to feel like his second spell could be as exciting as his first, even if the Welsh winger is clearly now past the peak of his powers.
It’s been a difficult few years for him at Real Madrid as he’s fallen out of favour, but as a loan signing for Spurs this season, he should be a relatively low-risk addition, and if he can find his feet again with a second stint in the Premier League, it’s going to be great to watch.
Bale up front alongside the in-form Harry Kane and Son Heung-min certainly has the potential to be an immense front three that could fire Tottenham back into the top four.
4) Timo Werner
One of the best young forwards in the world, Timo Werner hasn’t quite got going for Chelsea yet, but should prove a hit with time.
The Blues have signed some real duds up front in recent times, with Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain and Michy Batshuayi all proving hugely disappointing.
But in Werner, they’ve signed a genuine world class talent just as he enters his peak years, and once all the new signings at Chelsea settle, they should have one hell of a team.
3) Kai Havertz
Even more promising than Werner is fellow Germany international Kai Havertz, who has joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen.
Still only 21 years of age, Havertz has the world at his feet and looks to possess the best qualities of top players such as Mesut Ozil and Michael Ballack with his skill, vision and ability to score goals from midfield.
Chelsea fans will hope they finally have an ideal long-term successor for Eden Hazard, who has been badly missed since his move to Real Madrid last year.
2) Thomas Partey
A huge statement of intent by Arsenal, Thomas Partey is a genuine world class midfielder who looks capable of giving them everything they’ve been missing in that area of the pitch.
The Ghana international was a star player for Atletico Madrid and they’ll be gutted to have lost him, with Arsenal now surely back in contention for a top four spot this season.
The Gunners also strengthened well with the signings of Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, but Partey is undoubtedly the pick of the bunch and up there with the best buys we’ve seen anywhere in Europe in this transfer window.
1) Thiago Alcantara
In first place surely has to be Liverpool’s new midfield addition Thiago Alcantara, with the classy Spanish maestro arriving on the back of a superb treble win at Bayern Munich.
Alcantara has been a joy to watch with his range of passing for many years now, and he seems an ideal fit for this Liverpool team, who now have a potent new weapon in their side.
Most of Liverpool’s creativity has come from their attack-minded full-backs, but Alcantara gives them new spark in the middle and should mean they’re once again favourites for the Premier League title.